De Dolphijn (the Dolphin) was erected between 1599 and 1602, commissioned by poet Hendrick Laurensz Spiegel. The house changed hands multiple times during its first decades – in 1609, it was bought by Volckert Overlander and soon afterwards it was passed on to his son. A half century later, De Dolphijn underwent a thorough remodelling and was divided into two separate houses, the right one renamed De Kleynde Dolphijn (the Little Dolphin) and the left one De Vergulde Dolphijn (the Gilded Dolphin).

The Dolphin is a typical example of a Dutch canal house from the early 17th Century featuring a wing, or a small adjacent house located on the same plot. The two top telescoped gables are 15 metre wide and constitute a decorative crown atop the building. The facade features strap work ornamentation, which was already old-fashioned at the time of the building construction, but blends in exceptionally well with the rest of the decor.